Blue ball

Students love raquetball

By RICH JOHNSON
UNIVERSITY JOURNAL

Racquetball is the most popular sport at the Sorensen P.E. Building, said Todd Eckley, a freshman history major from Milford who works in the building.
Kris Pooley, a freshman theatre arts major from Ely, Nev., said he prefers racquetball over the other sports offered at the new building.
“People pee in the pool, and basketball is pretty busy sometimes,” Pooley said. “Raquetball is more of the manly, one-on-one stuff.”
Racquetball is a fast-paced, indoor sport for either one-on-one or team competition. Players attempt to hit the ball against the front wall and place the rebound where the opponent can’t reach the ball before it bounces twice.
After a serve, the ball can hit any wall before hitting the front, but must strike the front wall before hitting the floor or ceiling. Points are only scored when the player had served. Players usually play to 21 points.
Brock Zobell, a freshman engineering major Orem, said he plays every day. He started playing at the beginning of the semester.
“We just decided to start playing one day,” Zobell said. “I play against my roommate or three other guys, usually.”
Zobell said one of his favorite things about racquetball is that when he beats his opponents, they “feel like real idiots” because everyone can see through the glass wall.
He also said playing racquetball impresses the ladies.
“Girls dig racquetball players,” Zobell said. “They think they’re pretty sexy.”
Although some people wear a lot of protective equipment while playing racquetball, Pooley said he doesn’t “get all decked out.”
“You kind of look like a pansy when you do that,” Pooley said. “I don’t know why anyone would wear goggles; how does anyone get hit in the eye? If you get hit in the eye you’re